Duke Energy offers energy- and money-saving reminders for winter

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Weeks after an historic polar blast that set all-time marks for winter power use across parts of Duke Energy’s service areas, the company continues to remind customers how to save energy and money on their power bills.

“The month of January has delivered record cold temperatures across many communities served by Duke Energy,” said Gayle Lanier, Duke Energy’s senior vice president and chief customer officer. “When temperatures dip – especially to historic lows – customers use more energy, resulting in higher bills. It’s important for customers to remember simple steps they can take to save money on their power bills and heat their homes and businesses efficiently.”

Winter Energy-Savings Information

The thermostat is a real culprit of higher winter bills. To help save energy and money, select the lowest comfortable setting when home, and bump the thermostat down a degree or two when leaving home.

Have the HVAC system checked regularly by a qualified heating and air conditioning contractor to maintain efficiency and peak performance. Duke Energy offers qualified customers rebates to help offset the cost of making many HVAC efficiency improvements. For more information, visit www.duke-energy.com.

Leave drapes or blinds open to allow the sun’s rays to warm the house.

Inefficient heating can also add to monthly power bills during colder temperatures. One of the easiest things customers can do to support heating efficiency is to change air filters regularly. A dirty air filter makes a heating system work harder, which uses more energy.

Replace standard bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. CFLs are more efficient than regular bulbs, while giving off the same amount of light. Duke Energy offers free and heavily discounted energy efficient light bulbs in many service areas. Since 2010, Duke Energy has distributed nearly 37 million CFLs. That’s enough energy saved to power more than 97,000 residential homes and offset the carbon output of 205,000 passenger cars.

Find these and other tips at www.duke-energy.com. Just click on the “save energy and money” link.

Tools to Understand Energy Use

Duke Energy customers interested in saving money on their bills are encouraged to visit www.duke-energy.com to learn more about customized energy reports. Reports are available to customers with an online account and offer tips on upgrades and improvements – such as using energy efficient light bulbs or sealing air ducts – that can make a home more efficient.

Billing and Payment Options

Duke Energy offers a number of billing and payment options to help customers conveniently pay their bills. Free paperless billing and online payment programs are also available. For more information, visit the “billing and payment” page at www.duke-energy.com.

Energy Assistance Programs

Duke Energy offers programs across its service areas that provide financial support to local assistance agencies to help customers with their winter heating costs. In 2013, Duke Energy and its customers donated more than $19 million in aid across its service areas through energy assistance programs. Program information is available at www.duke-energy.com.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 250 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at: www.duke-energy.com.